Knife wiper for typographical slug casting machines



April 1950 F. c. FROLANDER 2,505,285

KNIFE WIPER FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL SLUG CASTING MACHINES Filed Feb. 16, 1945 Z Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR MRNE Y;

April 25, 1950 F. c. FROLANDER 2,505,285

KNIFE WIPER FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL SLUG CASTING MACHINES Filed Feb. 16, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 25, 1950 KNIFE WIPER FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL SLUG CASTING MACHINES Frank C. Frolander, Elizabeth, N. J., assignor to Mergenthaler Linotype Company, a corporation of New York Application February 16, 1945, Serial No. 578,189

This invention relates to slug castingmachines of the general organization represented in U. S. Letters Patent to MergenthalenNo. 436,532, wherein circulating. matricesv are released from a magazine in the. order in which their characters are to appearinprintand then composed in line, the composed line transferred to a vertically movable transporter or first elevator which presents it to the: mold, the mold filled with molten metal to form av slug or. type bar against the matrices which produce the type. characters thereon, and the matrices thereafter elevated and returned through a distributing mechanism to the magazine from which they started. At the time the matrices are being elevated. and distributed, the cast slug isejected from the mold and. forced between a pair of trimming knives. mounted on the vise frame and which dress. down the sides of the slug and bring it to the proper thickness.

In these machines, it is necessary at times to vary the vertical position of the first elevator during casting in order to bring about the proper alinement of the matrix. characters with the mold slot. For instance, in the use of matrices bearing. characters up to 1,4 pt.,the elevator ordinarily is allowed to descend to its lowermost level; whereas, in the use of matrices which characters rangin from 14 pt to 42 pt., the elevator is arrested at. a slightly higher level. In recent years, improvements. have been made to adapt themachine to. handle matrices with. characters above 42' rat, and as high as 60 pt..an-d more, so that it. has been necessary in the use of such matrices to arrestthe elevator at a still higher level. For arresting the elevator at its higher levels, the vise frame is ordinarly provided with two .pivoted filler pieces or stop members, so constructed and arranged that either maybe swung into or out of operative position as desired, their construction and mode of operation being fully described in U. S. Letters Patent to D. S. Kennedy No; 1,595,947.

In these machines; it is also the practice to remove the shavings from the knives after a slug has been trimmed and before the next slug is delivered therethrough, and ordinarily this is accomplished by the use of a knife wiper which is controlled or actuated by the movement of the first elevator, either in its descent or in its ascent. However, when the knife wiper is actuated by the downward movement of the. first elevator and the elevator is arrested at its upper casting levels, the wiper will fail to make a complete wiping stroke: and, as a. result, some of the shavings: are not removed from: the knife blades 4 claims; c1. 199-62) 1 and give rise to the undesirable features" which the wiper originally was intended to eliminate.

While arrangements already have been provided whereby the stroke of the knife wiper may be kept constant or uniform regardless of the level at which the elevator is arrested, they require a preliminary manual adjustment or regulation of the parts to condition them for proper funct oning during a machine cycle of operation (see the U. S. patent to Burt No. 1,902,434 and the later U. S. patent to Atkins No. 2,088,989).

The present invention contemplates a completely automatic arrangement for the same purpose, which will require no attention whatever on the part of the operator. To this end, the connections between the knife wiper and elevator include a multiplying cam element operative during the downward movement of the elevator to complete the active stroke of the wiper when the elevator is arrested at either of the two upper casting levels, and which is also movable auto-- mati'oally to a neutral position when the elevator is allowed to descend to its normal or lowermost casting level in order that a stroke greater than that required will not be imparted to the wiper. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the cam element is rotatably mounted on the elevator and controlled by a fixed upright banking member located below the cam element and adapted to turn it to one or another of three diiierent angular positions according to the level at which the elevator is arrested. In. the accompanying drawings, the inventio has been shown merely in preferred form by way of example, and obviously many changes and variations may bemade therein, which willstill be comprised within its spirit. It should be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment ex:--

cept. insofar as such limitations are specified in:

the appended claims;

Referring to the drawings:

Fig, 1 is a side elevation of the vise frame and,

first elevator, showing the knife wiper at the beginning of its stroke and the improved connections between the wiper and the elevator;

Fig. 2: is a side elevation on a slightly enlarged scale and. similar to Fig. l, but showing the posi'-' tion the: wiper and multiplying cam element are caused to assume whenv the elevator is'sustained at its normal or lowermost casting level;

Fig. 3 is a top. plan view of Fig. 1', showing one of the filler pieces in its active or arresting position Fig. 4 is a side elevation similar to Fig; 2*b1rt showing the position the wiper and cam element 1 are caused to assume when the elevator is arrested at the intermediate casting level;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation showin the relative position of the parts when the elevator is arrested at its uppermost casting level; and

Fig. 6 is a detai1 front elevation of the cam element and parts adjacent thereto.

After composition, a line of matrices X is delivered to the first elevator A and lowered thereby into casting relation with a mold B, the latter being carried, as usual, by a rotatable disk B (Fig. 2) adapted, first, to advance the mold into contact with the matrix line preparatory to the casting of the slug and, thereafter, to retract and turn the mold from its horizontal casting position to a vertical position directly in front of a reciprocable ejector (not shown). The mold then is advanced a second time into close proximity to apair of trimming knives C secured to the rear face of a stationary vise frame D, and the slug is then expelled from the mold by operation of the ejector which also serves to force theslug between the knives and beyond the same for delivery to a galley located at the front of the machine. Meanwhile, the elevator A ascends to its highest position where the matrix line is transferred therefrom for distribution, and finally returns to its normal position (Fig. 1) in readiness to receive another composed line.

The elevator A is slidably mounted in the vise frame D and formed with the usual elongated body A and head portion A which latter overhangs the vise frame and carries the channeled matrix supporting member A. The head por tion A is also provided with an adjustable banking screw a projecting slightly below the same and through which the elevator is supported from the vise frame at its different casting levels.

When casting from matrices bearing characters of a size under 14 pt, the elevator is arrested in its descent at its normal or lowermost level by the direct engagement of the banking screw with the top surface of the vise frame. However, when casting from matrices bearing characters above 14 pt., it is necessary, as already stated, to arrest the elevator at somewhat higher levels. For this purpose, two filler pieces E and E are employed, the former being fast to a pivot rod e extending transversely across the top of the vise frame and equipped with a knurled knob e for turning it, and the latter being loosely mounted on the rod. In practice, to arrest the elevator at an intermediate level, the filler piece E is moved into active position beneath the head portion A as shown in Fig. 3; and to arrest the elevator at a higher level, the filler piece E, as shown in Fig. 5, is also moved into active position alongside the piece E with its active portions e and c superimposed upon the corresponding active portions e and e of the fillerpiece E. If more detailed information is desired, reference may be had to the Kennedy Patent No. 1,595,947 before mentioned.

As illustrated in the drawings and as embodied in commercial machines, the trimming knives C have associated with them a wiper blade F arranged to move along the edges of the knives,. the cleaning stroke of the blade being downward from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2. The blade F is fastened to the upper end' of a vertically disposed rod F arranged at the back of thevise frame and properly guided by a bracket F attached to said frame. To hold the'iblade out of direct contact with the cutting edges of the knives during its operation, the rod F is formed with an offset protuberance 1 adapted to bear against the body portion of one of the knives and slide longitudinally thereon. At its lower end, the rod F is hingedly mounted in a hub portion f of a link member F which connects the rod F to a similarly disposed rod F arranged in front of the vise frame D and slidably mounted in upper and lower fixed brackets G and G respectively. A coiled spring f surrounding the hub portion f and engaging the rod F holds the protuberance ;f yieldingly against the body of the contiguous knife and the wiper blade in the proper wiping position. To facilitate assemblage of the parts, a vertical adjustment of the wiper rod F relatively to its actuating rod F is permitted by a pair of lock nuts F mounted on the rod F and engaging corresponding ears f of the intermediate connecting member F The active stroke of the wiper rod F takes place'in opposition to a compression spring F surrounding the rod F and seated upon the lower guide bracket G At its upper end, the spring F engages an adjustable nut f on the rod F and is adapted, through the medium of a spacing collar i which banks against the bottom surface of the upper guide bracket G, to hold both rods F and F in their normal or raised position with the wiper blade F flush with the upper ends of the trimming knives.

It so happens that the downward movement of the elevator A from its position of rest, shown in Fig. l, to its lowermost casting position, shown in Fig. 2, is just sufficient to impart a full active stroke to the knife wiper. It will be obvious, therefore, that unless some expedient were pro-- vided to multiply the movement of the wiper when the elevator is arrested at one or the other of the two higher casting levels, the wiper would not complete its active stroke and would fail to clean the lower portions of the knife blades in the manner required.

According to the present invention, the expedient provided for the required purpose includes a multiplying cam element H rotatably mounted on the elevator head A and arranged to engage, from above, an anti-friction roller f carried at the upper extremity of the vertical slide rod F In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the cam element H is formed with a high projecting portion It and with two low concavities h 71 the latter being disposed respectively on opposite sides of the projection. A light pull spring H anchored to the elevator head and attached to the cam element, holds the latter yieldingly in its normal position (Fig. 1) againsta stop pin h When the machine is at rest, the concavity h of the cam element will just clear the roller j" of the rod F ,-so that an operative connection may be established between the elevator and said rod to impart the active stroke to the knife wiper as the elevator starts its descent to casting position.- However, by giving the cam element H a partial turn in a counter-clockwise direction,

the rod F will be forced downwardly in relation to the elevator by the high projection h to multiplythe stroke of the wiper F, and if said element is turned sufiiciently far to carry the projection beyond the roller 1, the rod F will be permitted to rise under the influence of the compression spring F so as to neutralize the additional movement imparted to the wiper F as the roller seats in the concavity 71.

The operation of the cam element H is effected automatically during the descent'of the elevator to casting position by a stationary upright bankaromas:

i-ngniember rising the upper guide bracket G and-adapted; as previously stated, tcturn the cam element to one or another of different angular positions according to the level at which the elevator is arrested. As herein illustrated, the member J is formed at the top with a flat banking surface-'7', located at a predetermined distanceabove the vise frameli) and disposed inthe vertical path of a roller h carri'ed'by the carnel'ementI-F. A recess cut'i nto the front wall of the banking member, provides. the necessary clearance for the projection 72 of the cam element whens-the latter occupiesthe position shown in Fig. 2.

The parts are so; arranged; that; when the elevator A in its descent is arrested at the intermediate casting level by the fillerpiece E (Fig;; 4),, the am element H- will be turnedbv the: engagemerit of the roller 71. with the banking surface 1' in the appropriate direction to cam the rod F downwardly in relation to the elevator and thus multiply the corresponding movement of the wiper F sufficiently to complete its active stroke. When the elevator is arrested at the slightly higher casting level by the two filler pieces E and E combined, as shown in Fig. 5, the cam element will be turned in the same way to depress the rod F and again impart the necessary multiplying movement to the wiper. As the elevator starts its ascent after the casting operation and the roller h is carried out of engagement with the banking surface 7', the cam element gradually will be restored by the spring H to its original position and permit the roller f of the rod F to remain seated in the concavity h At this point, it may be mentioned that while the wiper blade F will not be carried quite throughout the length of the trimming knives C when the elevator is arrested at its uppermost casting level, the additional movement imparted thereto by operation of the cam element H is more than adequate for all practical purposes, it being understood, first, that each slug is usually cast with spaced apart ribs which extend transversely across one of its side faces and are shaved off by the right hand knife as the slug is ejected from the mold in order to bring it to exact size and, second, that when the mold is standing in its vertical position at the ejecting station, the lowermost rib will be located 1%" above the lower end of the slug and at a somewhat greater distance above the lower ends of the trimming knives, so that the thickness of the supplemental filler piece E (actually only A") will not prevent the wiper from cleaning the knives to the extent required.

When the filler pieces E, E are not in use, the cam element H during the descent of the elevator A to its normal or lowermost casting level will be turned by the banking member J to its neutral position shown in Fig. 2. Under these conditions, the full multiplying movement will be imparted to the wiper momentarily, as the high projecting portion h of the cam element passes over the roller f of the rod F, but the original relation of these parts immediately will be restored asthe roller 1" seats in the concavity h. In this way the movements of the wiper blade F will be kept within the limitations of the trimming knives C so as to avoid certain difficulties well known that would otherwise arise prior to the slug casting operation. After the mold recedes from casting position and the elevator rises, the angular position of the cam elementH (Fig. 2) will be maintained by the upward pressure of the rod F until lit) ation when the. elevator again descends with an othermatrix linetocastingposition.

Having thus described my invention what I" claim is: 1. A slug casting machine equipped with an elevator, means for arresting the elevator at one or the other of twocasting levels, a pair of slug;

" trimming knives, a wiper associated with the knives, and automatic means forimparting a full stroke to the Wiper regardless of the" level at wh ch the elevator" is arrested,- characterized in that-said automatic means include a'rotatabl-e cam having high and low portions, a wiper actuating element arranged for engagement with the rotatable cam, and means actuated at each operation of the elevator for rotating the cam to different angular positions to bring a high or low portion thereof into engagement with the wiper actuating element according to the casting level at which the elevator is arrested.

2. A slug casting machine equipped with an elevator, means for arresting the elevator at one or the other of two casting levels, a pair of slug trimming knives, a wiper associated with the knives, and automatic means for imparting a full stroke to the wiper regardless of the level at which the elevator is arrested, characterized in that said automatic means include a rotatable cam carried by the elevator and having high and low portions, 2. wiper actuating element also carried by the elevator and arranged for engagement with the rotatable cam, and a stationary banking member permanently located in engaging relation to the cam and serving at each operation of the elevator to rotate the cam to different angular positions to bring a high or low portion thereof into engagement with the wiper actuating element according to the casting level at which the elevator is arrested.

3. A slug casting machine equipped with an elevator, means for arresting the elevator at one or the other of two casting levels, a pair of slug trimming knives, a wiper associated with the knives, and automatic means for imparting a full stroke to the wiper regardless of the level at which the elevator is arrested, characterized in that said automatic means include a rotatable cam carried by the elevator and having two low portions and an intermediate high portion, a wiper actuating element also carried by the elevator and arranged to engage in one of the low portions of the cam when the latter is at rest, and a stationary banking member permanently lo cated in engaging relation to the cam and serving at each operation of the elevator to rotate the cam from its position of rest to one or the other of two difierent angular positions, one with the high portion of the cam in engagement with the wiper element when the elevator is arrested at its upper casting level, and the other with the second low portion of the cam in engagement with the wiper element when the elevator is arrested at its lower casting level.

4-. A slug casting machine equipped with an elevator, means for arresting the elevator at one or the other of two casting levels, a pair of slug trimming knives, a .wiper associated with the knives, and automatic means for imparting a full stroke to the wiper regardless of the level at which the elevator is arrested, characterized in that said automatic means include a rotatable cam carried by the elevator and having two low portions and an intermediate high portion, a spring for maintainin the cam yieldingly in a position of rest on the elevator, a stop tolocate the cam in such position of rest, a vertically movable slide rod also carried by the elevator and connected to the wiper to actuate the same, a, spring for holding the rod, yielding-ly ina raised position, a roller mounted at the upper end of the rod and arranged to engage in one of the low portions of the cam when the latter is in its position of rest, a stationary banking member located in a, permanent position in the machine frame, and a roller mounted. on the rotatable cam and arranged to be engaged by the stationary banking member at each descent of the elevator to rotate the cam from REFERENCES CIiTED The following references are of record in the file'of this patent:

f' UNITED: STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,902,434 Burt Mar. 21, 1900 2,088,989 Atkins Aug. 3, 1937 

